20XX Beta Has Begun on Steam, Full Update Notes

Developer Batterstaple Games has announced that the spiritual successor to Mega Man, 20XX has launched its Beta today.

20XX is a game built to feel like Mega Man X, but with procedurally generated levels, random powerups, permanent death, and multiplayer.

The game uses a procedural level generation algorithm that builds levels from a certain number of mechanics at a time; switching rapidly between playing like an action game and playing like a platformer, mixing precision jumping with fevered combat.

Add in permadeath and over 100 powerups to find in between agonizing deaths and you’ve got hours of nail-biting jumping-and-shooting goodness on your hands.

Also, 20XX features full co-op. Play with your buddy on the couch or over the interwebs.

Here is the Beta Trailer:

In addition, there was a huge update today along with the Beta launch.

0.785 Patch Notes:

BIG CHANGES:

A new mode has been added (Casual), aimed at smoothing the getting-into-20XX experience out a bit.

Casual mode runs begin with the player choosing three of his unlocked passives to start with. Any three! No duplicates.

Casual mode runs are not Leaderboard-eligible.

Casual mode is available for any number of players (local or online). In online co-op, whatever the host picks is also awarded to the client.

Normal mode awards slightly more Soul Nuts than Casual.

Arctech (Frostor) has received one million changes.

Complete visual overhaul! (There’s still a lot of tiling polish to do.)

New Hazard: Motion Traps (name pending). They’re basically flame geysers that only trigger when you pass in front of the trap.

Teleporters now transport the player much faster.

Targeters now reset when the player takes damage, preventing the terrible double-whammy scenario. This includes fall damage. (The actual rule is “the targeter can’t target the player during his invuln frames.”)